Ripley Tuition vote is courageous

On Tuesday night, school board President Robert Bentley announced that the proposal to tuition students in grades seven to 12 passed by 20 votes. The tuitioning will not lower the district tax rate, but it does something even more important: it gives Ripley students – all 300 of them – greater opportunities in their education.

Currently at the Ripley district, it is bare bones. These students are missing out on extracurricular activities, courses offered at other schools and athletic activities.

Residents, however, courageously agreed to end the status quo to better the opportunities for the students in their district.

It was unselfish. It was emotional. In the end, however, it is the correct decision.